Leading Cadet Simon finished third in the famous Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race over the Easter weekend.

The 17-year-old, who attends Reading Unit, took on the 125-mile race with Stephen, also 17, and secured the bronze medal in a time of 17 hours, 26 minutes and 31 seconds. They competed against 90 other pairs in the 15-18 category, kayaking for long periods – including more than five hours on one day – without any rest.

Simon, who is currently revising for his A-Levels, said: “It’s a very difficult thing to be doing. It is mentally and physically demanding, but the hardest part is the mental side of it.

“You stay on a campsite in-between, and you make friends with different people and get through it together. You just hope it won’t hurt the next day – but it does! I’m still aching quite a bit now.

“Training involved a lot of long paddles. Every weekend we would be doing 20 miles. It was tough.”

Simon is hoping to go to Plymouth University to study mechanical engineering, with the view to becoming an officer in the Royal Navy. He has been kayaking since he was young and has taken part in the race, which starts in Devizes, Wiltshire, and ends in Westminster, London, twice before.